Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless
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List Price: Our Price: $135.00 You Save: $4.99 (4%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless
Customer Review: After six months. still rocking.
Summary: 5 Stars
It appears from studying the reviews that these are pretty good ovens when they work; but they sometimes arrive busted or break down early. Luckily, this one works on arrival, and we'll just have to see how far it struggles on into the future. I'm getting old enough that I now worry less about absolute appliance longevity. But still, DOA stories are grim to hear.
The oven is a nice-looking thing -- not massive construction, but it feels solid enough for practical purposes in the service of a sane cook. Controls are instinctively understandable -- better than average. For its compact outer size, it offers very decent interior room.
Power is stunningly high. It vigorously boils a cup of cold water in 35 seconds. Potatoes cook in half the time required by the gigantic 40-year-old GE it's replacing.
I doubt this one will live so long, but it costs 1/10 as much as that first generation of microwave ovens did. This means it can commit suicide in 4 years and still be better value than the primitive GE. If it blows up soon, I'll try to remember to come back here and file an outraged obituary like the others.
After a month:
Still working great. I feel more sanguine. Electronic gizzies that survive early infancy very often go for a long time.
So far, I have not had to use the manual except to get an overview at the beginning. The control scheme is as intuitive and intelligent in practice as it seemed in principle. Even multi-step routines like "Defrost" can be figured out as you go.
Now I wish my ancient GE had expired long ago so I could have had this earlier. We are ever so lucky they don't make 'em like they used to, gnome sane?
1 March 2011 -- addendum
Half a year has passed now. The oven is still working splendidly. Very powerful and useful. Nothing has broken off.
Perhaps the initial run of bas quality control had passed. Or maybe I was just lucky.
Customer Review: Had higher expectations
Summary: 2 Stars
We bought the Sharp R-305KS microwave in April 2009 for $139 here at Amazon. Since other reviewers had warned that the plastic on the front number panel would quickly wear off, we weren't surprised when ours did so only three months in. While it worked, we were impressed with the heating power (though we never got beyond using 'high' and the timer as all the other controls are not intuitive). Every month or so we found that it wouldn't heat, but then we'd try it again later and things would be okay.
This past weekend when we tried using it, the interior light turned on and the carousel rotated, but there was (as others here have described) a louder than usual noise and the microwave didn't heat anything. Have tried it several times since and gotten the same response. We are six weeks beyond the warranty, so suspect we will be junking it (I know there is also an additional warranty period on the magnetron tube part, but that does not include labor or the cost of getting the microwave to and from the service center -- assuming that is indeed the problem).
Our first giant GE microwave lasted 14 years. Our second oven, a tiny Sharp Half Pint, lasted 8 years. This one, presumably a step up from the Half Pint in size, power and cost, lasted 14 months. If I'd known that these things were no longer built to last, I would have factored that into determining my price point - and spent less than $139 on it. I had higher expecations and feel let down by Sharp. I'm reluctantly giving this product two stars and not one because, well, it was nice while it lasted -- it just should have lasted longer.
Customer Review: Nicely working with no complaints
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great buy for its' price. What sold me on this Sharp originally was a review from another buyer. It noted that the interior cooking space is large enough for a dinner plate. This is true, and there's still a little space to spare. The cooking options are well engineered and cooking is easy. There are many quick-cooking, re-heating, thawing etc. options pre-programmed so using it is easy. I wanted something that wasn't as big as some of the standard sized ovens because of limited kitchen counter space. Judging from the dimensions in the initial ad, this oven looked like it would fit well where I wanted to put it. It's a convenient size and fits well in several places. The clock on the front is well placed and easily readable from anywhere in the room. The stainless outer framework looks nice and is easily cleaned. The door is noisier than I would have thought but this was noted in the review that I read pre-purchase. This doesn't bother me at all. The interior compartment is well lit and ventilated. I bought this oven replacing another Sharp that I'd had since about 1992 that was still working well, although causing electrical interference with audio equipment in an adjacent apartment. This machine does not. I've never had a bad experience with Sharp brand appliances and was brand specific when shopping for this replacement oven. Power output is sufficient. I haven't used this oven for cooking raw materials but its many options for doing this are documented in the instruction materials and easily understood. I think this is a great product.Customer Review: Solid buy.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am usually really nervous when making purchases over $75, so I did alot of research on microwaves when my old one was taking 7 minutes to boil a cup of water. I found that Sharp has a good reputation for customer service. (Thankfully, I haven't had to find this out on my own.) So I decided to stick with Sharp. I also decided that a decent microwave for home use should cost no more than $100. (Free super-saver shipping on heavy and/or bulky purchases is a no-brainer!) Models with too many functions (ex: cooking whole turkeys) were just not necessary because most households rarely use advanced features. Personally, I throw a slice of pizza in there and pop it on for 1 minute... I don't even check the heat settings. If a microwave takes too long to decipher the setting codes, doesn't that defeat the purpose? This model has just enough features so you're not overwhelmed, in the event advanced settings are required. The 1 cubic food is a decent size. (But you STILL shouldn't cook a turkey in it!) The 1100-Watts really does the job. The first thing that was cooked in it was the infamously finicky microwave popcorn, and it came out beautifully with the popcorn button. (It even has settings for mini popcorn bags which are gaining popularity.) I'm also happy to report that it now takes around 45 seconds to boil a cup of water. Very happy with this purchase!Customer Review: Warranty Service Difficult To Obtain
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased a Sharp R-420LW in December, 2008 from hhgregg. In June, 2009 the sensor feature failed causing sparks and loud grinding noises to emanate from the oven. I located Sharp repair services on the internet and called the listed number to obtain service. Unfortunately, I did not ask if the location listed on Sharp's website was accurate. I took the oven to the listed location only to find a vacant residential house. I then went to hhgregg where the original purchase was made and after a lengthy wait an hhgregg "manager" begrudgingly provided me with a 800 number that led to a repair service in a city some 240 miles from my location. I heartily caution anyone interested in a Sharp product to first check out warranty service availability. Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, StainlessSharp R-230KK 800-Watt 4/5-Cubic-Foot Compact Microwave, BlackSharp R-520LW Full Size Countertop MicroSharp R-520LKT Full Size Countertop Micro